Arm rest or support.



No. 555,885. Ptented Aug. s4, |900.

L. c. NEAL.

ARM REST 0R SUPPORT.

(Application led. May 2 1900.) ma Model.)

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LEMUEL O. NEAL, OFVLEWISTON, IDAHO.

ARM REST OR SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,885, dated August 14, 1900. Application filed May 2,19Q0.' Serial No. 15,268. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL C. NEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Nez Perces and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Arm Rest or Support, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an arm-rest or sup porting device for the use of type-writer operators and others; and the object of the same is to provide simple and effective means for holding the arms of those having occasion to manipulate finger-keys for considerable periods of time and relieve the muscles of the arms and shoulders of strain and fatigue and also to facilitate the suspension of parts of the device when not in use to remove all obstruction to perfect freedom over a table or desk when desired.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an arm support or rest embodying the features of the invention. Fig. -2 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one of the suspending devices in a modified form.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral l designa-tes a suspendingcord having a central attaching loop or eye 2 for application to the ceiling or a standard, and the opposite terminals of the said oord are secured to the extremities of a spreader 3. Depending from the ends of the said spreader are hangers 4, to which the upper ends of straps 5 are fastened, and have arm-receiving hooks 6 on their lower ends. The hangers 4. and straps 5 are of suitable length and material, and the former may be elastic and the latter inelastic, or vice versa, or, as shown by Fig. 3, either may be in the form of a spring. This interchange of elastic or yielding construction is obvious, and it is proposed to have the hooks 6 normally held in an inturned position for convenience in inserting the arms therein, and, moreover, the use of the hooks 6 is of importance in View of the fact that the arms of an operator can be more readily placed therein and withdrawn therefrom.

It frequently happens that it is desired to have freedom of action for work on a desk or table over which this improved form of device is suspended or located, and if no means exist for temporarily removing the straps from obstructive proximity to the said desk or table a great inconvenience is present. Consequently the straps 5 are provided with slides 7, carrying as a part thereof hooks 8, which have a biting-jaw 9, pivotally working in ears 10, to clamp the slide in each instance in xed adjustable position on the straps. The purpose of these hooks 8, as indicated and shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, is to permit the engagement therewith of the hooks 6 on the lower ends of the straps t0 elevate the latter, and it will be understood that the degree of elevation will depend solely on the adjustment of the slides.

A very convenient and useful device is thus provided for the use of operators, and the use of the same will materially lessen the tiresome sensation resulting from a continual strain on the muscles of the arms and shoulders during t-he exercise indulged in while actuating finger-keys.

Though the preferred form ofl the improved device has been explained, it will be obviously apparent that changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In an arm rest or support, the combination of a spreader, yielding depending devices held by opposite extremities of said spreader and having open inturned hooks on the lower ends thereof, and another hook adj ustably mounted on an intermediate portion of each depending device for engagement with the said inturned hooks on the lower ends of the devices to elevate the lower portions of the latter when not in use. p

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEMU'EL C. NEAL.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN F. MORRIS, ALFRED W. KRoUriNGnR. 

